Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Rebellion (1)
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While Brother Prince's First Army was locked in a desperate battle at Strev, Yuno's Second Army advanced at a blistering pace, smashing through the minor lords under Count Redelmo's domain.
From the day of the invasion up to the third day, Yuno had seized one barony and one viscounty. On the fourth day, he assaulted Baron Creis's territory, steadily tightening the noose around Strev.
Unlike the previous conquests, however, Baron Creis's domain put up fierce resistance. Centered around his castle, he had even conscripted peasants for a thorough defense.
But they couldn't hold out long against Yuno's legion of ten thousand. Once the walls fell and the gates were battered down by siege rams, Baron Creis raised the white flag.
"Your Highness! Baron Creis has arrived."
"Got it. I'll go out."
About an hour after Yuno accepted the surrender, a messenger reported that the enemy lord had reached the camp.
As Yuno stepped out of his tent amid the soldiers' salute, he saw Baron Creis kneeling before the gates with three women who appeared to be his family and one small child.
"Baron Creis? You're surrendering. But... what kind of nonsense is this? You rejected our initial surrender offer, only to raise the white flag after your gates were breached?"
"Urgh... Your Highness knows full well. We lords of Theseito are duty-bound to resist invaders for at least a week!"
It was true, so Yuno nodded. However, several legion soldiers had fallen during the siege, and the troops were clamoring for revenge. Some were just waiting for permission to loot as allowed after a siege.
Yuno was well aware of his soldiers' sentiments, so he pondered how to deal with the enemy lord.
The two territories seized earlier had surrendered immediately upon seeing the troop disparity, so he had spared their lives and property. But in cases like this, the norm was to execute the lord and permit the soldiers to loot and rape.
"Heh heh heh, Your Highness~ That young filly on the left looks nice and tender. How about her? In exchange, hand the two old hags on the right over to us—we'll take good care of them... hahaha."
Jake, the second son of Count Hazelmeier whom Yuno had brought along as a deputy, made no effort to hide his lustful desires. He offered the woman who seemed to be the lord's daughter to Yuno while claiming the wife and concubine for themselves.
After a moment's thought, Yuno's eyes fell on Lady Creis, trembling in terror. That settled it. He called out to Jake.
"Jake! I'm heading to the lord's manor first. Bring five of my most trusted guards. Baron Creis! Lead the way with your family."
"Hahaha, as expected of Your Highness—so wise. We have to grab the good stuff before the rank-and-file soldiers get their hands on it. Otherwise, those lowly scum will pocket everything, right?"
Yuno had no such intentions, but Jake chattered on self-satisfiedly as he followed Yuno to Baron Creis's manor.
Upon arrival, Baron Creis looked at Yuno with curiosity, wondering what on earth had brought him here.
"Phew~ Baron, to be honest, I don't want to kill you. Your sense of duty to your nation deserves respect... But rules are rules! I must execute you and your family, and permit the troops to loot."
"...I understand... But... please, spare my family..."
"That's why I'm making you an offer. In two hours, in front of all our legion soldiers, take your own life. And hand over any hidden treasures, of course... I'll distribute them to the troops to calm them and ban looting. Plus, I'll guarantee your family's safety."
"...Really?"
"It'd be easiest to just execute you and let them loot. Why go to all this trouble? Loose discipline from pillaging isn't good... And... never mind. So, what do you say?"
"Phew... I accept Your Highness's offer. As for the method...?"
"Poison lacks drama. Stab your own throat with a dagger."
"Thank you. Please... ensure my family's safety."
"Don't worry. I stake my honor on it."
Thanks to Yuno's consideration, Baron Creis got a moment to reunite with his family. His wife fainted, and his children wailed, but Yuno believed it was the best option—and the baron agreed it was the most merciful, consoling his kin.
One hour later, with all legion soldiers assembled except the guards, Baron Creis ascended the platform. He loudly proclaimed his foolish defiance of Valkan, then slit his own throat with the dagger. His hidden gold and jewels were fairly distributed to the troops, satisfying them somewhat.
But the process ignited pent-up grudges in some—namely, the noble sons Yuno had demoted.
Gathered in a tent, they drowned their complaints about Yuno in drink.
"Can you believe this? Showing mercy to an enemy lord who resisted to the bitter end?!"
"Maybe the Third Prince really is a Theseito spy? He wasn't hurt at all during the attack on the summer palace. Why? Because killing their spy would hurt Theseito themselves!"
"Heh~ That makes sense! We, the patriots of Valkan, can't just sit idly by."
"Got any clever ideas?"
Their drunken, resentful words began crossing lines, growing ever coarser.
"Shouldn't we take command of this Tenth Legion in the prince's stead? Imprison the Third Prince, and once his guilt is exposed, inform Crown Prince Franz and execute him for wartime treason."
"Sure, but how do we subdue a Swordmaster like him?"
"Heh heh heh, there's ways. This is the sleeping potion I use on women... One drop, and they're out cold for a full day. I've got about five left—mix them all into his drink, and he'll drop instantly."
"Th-then...?"
"Tie him up, hide him, then tell the troops that Creis's family betrayed us and killed Prince Yuno, so we executed them and took command."
"Heh heh heh, of course, before that..."
"Right. We'll sample those women first... hahaha. Instead of that Yuno bastard, Jake here should be legion commander."
Now openly scorning Yuno as no prince, the noble sons elevated Jake—the highest-ranking among them—as their leader.
Jake had been coveting Baron Creis's concubine and resented Yuno's handling of the situation. Imagining himself commanding the legion, the alcohol-fueled excitement took hold, and he joined their plot.
"Fine... I'll offer the prince the spiked drink myself. But we keep Yuno alive, just in case. Crown Prince adores him, you know? Until we fabricate ironclad proof even the crown prince will accept..."
"What if he wakes up midway? No one can stop a rampaging Swordmaster."
One noble son in charge of POWs offered a solution.
"There should be mana-suppressing cuffs in the POW wagons for high-risk captives like Swordmasters. I'll fetch them. Then... we leave it to you, Jake. As compensation, you get first pick of the three women prisoners."
"Deal! Let's start now."
It was a laughably sloppy plan, but drink and desire had blinded them. Jake especially throbbed with anticipation at the thought of the concubine's body. Clutching the mana cuffs, he dosed the liquor with the sleeping potion and headed to Yuno's tent.
"Your Highness, pardon the intrusion."
"Hm? Jake? What's this in the middle of the night?"
"Haha, how could I sleep knowing Your Highness is still up? I brought some fine brandy for you. Have a glass and rest."
"Hahaha, I appreciate it... but you know I don't drink. I'll take the sentiment."
"Your Highness... You've been having trouble sleeping lately, haven't you? Sometimes, forcing it with a stiff drink is the way. If the legion commander can't rest and his judgment clouds, the whole army suffers."
Yuno found Jake's words persuasive. Lately, reports of Brother Franz struggling at Strev had soured his mood, leaving him sleepless and drowsy during the day at times.
"Hm... Alright. Thank you, Jake."
Yuno downed the glass in one gulp. Sleep crashed over him instantly. Impressed by its potency, he barely made it to his bed before passing out cold.